Representative Jim Sensenbrenner said that Michelle Obama has a "large posterior."REUTERS

U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner is calling the First Lady to apologize for his comments. (AP)

US Representative Jim Sensenbrenner, a Republican from Wisconsin, has apologized after being publicly heard stating that First Lady Michelle Obama has a “large posterior.”

A spokesperson for Sensenbrenner tells the Web site FishBowlDC.com, “He plans to contact the First Lady’s office to apologize for his comments.” His spokesperson did not, however, deny his choice of words.

Sensenbrenner was overheard by the Web site earlier this week talking loudly on his cell phone at Reagan National Airport to an unknown confidant. He was recounting the events of a church auction that had taken place three weeks prior. Apparently, a woman at the auction had approached Sensenbrenner, praising Obama’s work. Sensenbrenner responded by saying that he does not believe the First Lady practices what she preaches when it comes to her cause du jour, nutrition.

“She lectures us on eating right while she has a large posterior herself,” Sensenbrenner allegedly said.

Obama has made one of her pet issues as First Lady eradicating childhood obesity. To that end, she launched the initiative “Let’s Move,” which encourages kids to eat well and exercise. Obama also has been vocal in the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, a $400 million program to bring healthy food vendors to urban and rural areas. Obama will publish the book “American Grown: How the White House Kitchen Garden Inspires Families, Schools, and Communities” in April.

“In the end, as First Lady, this isn’t just a policy issue for me. This is a passion. This is my mission,” Obama said in the “Let’s Move” mission statement. “I am determined to work with folks across this country to change the way a generation of kids thinks about food and nutrition.”

Sensenbrenner takes issue with Obama’s mission. In the statement to FishBowlDC, his spokesperson elaborated, “Sensenbrenner was referring to the First Lady’s healthy food initiative. He doesn’t think the government should be telling Americans what to eat.”